We rated these strains on their cannabinoid- and terpene-profiles. But also, the transparency of the seller.
Does the seller provide full lab-test reports that show the herb is free from contaminants and toxins like heavy metals?
We also compared how much CBD and other cannabinoids and terpenes you get per dollar, to see which strains provide you the most value for your money.
There’s a difference between:
- High CBD, but low THC strains, and;
- High-CBD, high-THC strains.
In my opinion, both are better than low-CBD, high-THC strains…
However, each of them will have a different effect because THC simply has different effects than CBD. A high-THC strain will always produce some psychoactive effects.
The strains on this list contain a high amount of CBD, but only a federally legal concentration of THC (less than 0.3%).
The average stats of our reviewed strains:
- Average CBD per dollar: 59.75mg;
- Average hemp-extract (CBD+other cannabinoids and terpenes) per dollar: 66.16mg.
Let’s get started with the list.
Table of Contents
- #1 CBD Moon Rocks (Best Potency)
- #2 Hawaiian Haze CBD Flower (Best Value Sativa)
- #3 Sour Space Candy CBD Flower (Best Sativa/Indica Balanced Strain)
- #4 Jack Herer CBD Flower (Best Terpene-Rich)
- #5 Golden Cherry CBD Flower (Best Full-Spectrum Ratio)
- #6 Bubba Kush CBD Flower (Best Indica)
- #7 Charlotte’s Web Hemp Flower (Best CBD-Specific Strain)
- #8 Kush CBD Flower (Honorable Mention)
Comparison of the Best High-CBD Flower
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Ranking | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Ratings | 4.65/5 | 4.58/5 | 4.53/5 | 4.32/5 | 4.35/5 | 4.38/5 | 4.38/5 | 4.15/5 |
CBD/$ | 83mg | 72mg | 80mg | 30mg | 47mg | 58mg | 60mg | 48mg |
Minor cannabinoids + terpenes/$ | 6.5mg | 6mg | 5.5mg | 5.5mg | 9.5mg | 4mg | 9.5mg | 5mg |
Cannabinoid-profileThe number of different cannabinoids present, and in what concentrations.: | ||||||||
Terpene-profileThe number of different terpenes present, and in what concentrations: | ||||||||
TransparencyBacked by 3rd-party lab-test reports? Transparent about where hemp is sourced?: | ||||||||
ValueHow many CBD + minor cannabinoids and terpenes you get per dollar: | ||||||||
Full-spectrum ratio | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 0.18 | 0.2 | 0.07 | 0.16 | 0.1 |
Read Review | Moon Rocks | Hawaiian Haze | Sour Space Candy | Jack Herer | Golden Cherry | Bubba Kush | Charlotte’s Web | Kush |
#1. CBD Moon Rocks (Best Potency)
Pros and Cons
- Full cannabinoid-profile available
- The most potent flower, both in terms of CBD and other cannabinoids like CBG and CBC
- Best value for money option, both in terms of CBD per dollar and other cannabinoids
- No Terpene test (we estimated based on strain and chemotype)
This is without a doubt, the most potent option on the list.
Not only is it the most potent option…
But it has a great cannabinoid-profile as well.
These CBD Moon Rocks come with a total of 44.99% of combined CBD content (CBA + CBDA).
But the best part:
These moon rocks contain a wide variety of additional cannabinoids in higher concentrations than almost any other CBD hemp flower that you’ll find. At least 4% of these moon rocks consists of additional cannabinoids like CBG, CBC, and CBN.
Although its full-spectrum ratio of 0.08 is only ‘average’, this is because of its extremely high CBD percentage.
With a full-spectrum ratio of 0.08, you get as many other cannabinoids for every mg of CBD as some other less potent strains on the list…
But in total, significantly more.
If you’re wondering why you would want all these other cannabinoids inside your flower…
Various studies indicate that consuming CBD with other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids has a more potent effect than consuming CBD alone.
On top of this benefit, these other cannabinoids come with their own set of benefits, including:
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Relaxing, and
- Anti-depressant effects.
If you want to get the most out of your CBD, a highly potent flower like this is one of your best options.
Since we don’t have a terpene-test and this product is a mix of various hemp flowers, we can’t give an estimation of its terpene-content.
But since this product is a mix of different hemp flowers, it probably contains a wide variety of terpenes.
The best part?
It’s also one of the most affordable options when we look at how much:
- CBD you get per dollar (83mg), and;
- Other cannabinoids per dollar (6.5mg).
Click the button below to get CBD Moon Rocks:
Next up…
#2. Hawaiian Haze CBD Flower (Best Value Sativa)
Pros and Cons
- Haze strains are one of the most popular strains for energizing and uplifting effects
- Best high-CBD strain for uplifting/energizing effects
- No other cannabinoids tested than CBD and THC (other cannabinoids we estimated based on strain and chemotype)
- No Terpene test (we estimated based on strain and chemotype)
When it comes to cannabis strains…
Haze strains are well-known for their uplifting effects. And while this CBD-variant of Haze won’t produce as uplifting effects as a high-THC variant…
It will produce stronger uplifting effects than any other high-CBD strain on the list.
Part of the reason why Sativa-dominant strains produce more uplifting effects than Indica-dominant strains is related to the differences in terpenes.
One study (1) found that Sativa-dominant strains have a higher chance of containing terpenes like:
- Terpinolene;
- Alpha-guaiene;
- Gamma-selinene, and;
- Sesquiterpenoids more generally.
Whether these sesquiterpenoids are the main reason why Sativa-dominant strains have more uplifting effects than Indica-dominant strains is unclear, but it could be part of the explanation.
The bottom line is that this CBD-variant of the Haze strain will still produce some sedative and (pain)-relieving effects…
But will also produce uplifting effects. Therefore if you’re looking for a high-CBD strain with the best uplifting effects, this is your strain.
Up next…
#3. Sour Space Candy CBD Flower (Best Sativa/Indica-Balanced Strain)
Pros and Cons
- One of the most Sativa/Indica-balanced high-CBD strains
- The most balanced high-CBD strain in terms of sedative vs. uplifting effects
- Very affordable in terms of CBD per dollar
- No other cannabinoids tested than CBD and THC (other cannabinoids we estimated based on strain and chemotype)
- No Terpene test (we estimated based on strain and chemotype)
Sour Space Candy is one of the most balanced high-CBD strains on the list.
Balanced means that it’s a 50% Sativa and 50% Indica strain.
And when you use this strain, you can clearly notice that it will produce effects right in the middle between a good Sativa-dominant strain like Hawaiian Haze and a good Indica strain like Bubba Kush.
It’s also one of the most affordable options on the list in terms of how much CBD (80mg) and other cannabinoids (5.5mg) per dollar you get. You get almost 50% more CBD per dollar than the average.
Since there’s no full cannabinoid- and terpene-profile test, we estimated its total cannabinoid and terpene content.
And the only downside of this strain is that:
Even with that estimation, the amount of other cannabinoids and terpenes you get for every 1 mg of CBD is on the low side compared to other options on the list (0.07mg).
That being said…
This is the best value-for-money option if you’re looking for a balanced high-CBD strain.
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Next up…
#4. Jack Herer CBD Flower (Best Terpene-Rich)
Pros and Cons
- The regular high-THC version is one of the most popular Sativa-strains in Europe, and particularly the Netherlands
- One of the better options if you’re looking for an uplifting/energizing high-CBD strain
- Complete terpene-test available
- High concentration of terpenes
- Lower CBD-percentage than other strains
- Doesn’t contain detectable levels of CBC, even though it’s a Sativa-dominant strain
Jack Herer is another extremely popular Sativa-dominant strain.
This means that because of the high CBD to THC ratio you’ll still get some sedative effects, but there will also definitely be uplifting/energizing effects present.
The best part is that we don’t have to guess the complete cannabinoid- and terpene-profile of this strain. It’s all public.
And when we check the third-party lab-test report, we can see that this strain contains especially high levels of the following terpenes:
- Ocimene;
- Myrcene, and;
- Terpinolene (characteristic of Sativa strains).
We can also see that besides CBD, the following cannabinoids are present in high concentrations:
- CBG, and;
- CBDV.
In total, you get 0.18mg of other cannabinoids and terpenes for every 1mg of CBD with Jack Herer. This high full-spectrum ratio is skewed because of this strain’s relatively low CBD percentage. However, this high full-spectrum ratio means that you’ll experience more benefits from all the other compounds for every 1mg of CBD.
Based on the available information, we also come to the conclusion that this strain has the highest concentration of terpenes: a total of 1.17%.
Terpenes play a big role in the different effects of different cannabis strains. And not only in the subjective experienced effects…
But also in the objective studied pharmacological effects.
For example:
Two of the terpenes that are most present in Jack Herer (Mycrene and Terpinolene) are both associated with:
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Anti-oxidant, and;
- Pain-killing effects.
Having high concentrations of these beneficial terpenes in your herb can only do you well.
Next up…
#5. Golden Cherry CBD Flower (Best Full-Spectrum Ratio)
Pros and Cons
- Full cannabinoid-test available
- Very high levels of CBC and CBG, especially considering its chemotype (type 3)
- Probably higher terpene-levels than average because higher cannabinoid-levels are correlated with higher terpene-levels
- No Terpene test (we estimated based on strain and chemotype)
- Pricey
This is a potent Indica-dominant strain. This means this strain will produce stronger sedative and relaxing effects than the Sativa-dominant strains on the list.
It’s the only indoor-grown strain on the list. Indoor-grown hemp isn’t necessarily better. However, it’s easier to create more potent buds with an indoor grow compared to an outdoor grow.
And the cannabinoid-profile shows exactly that.
The Golden Cherry CBD Flower from Plain Jane has significantly higher levels of CBG (0.38%) and CBC (1.53%) than other strains on the list.
While there’s no terpene-test to show the exact terpene-profile of this strain…
We estimate that the terpene-profile of this strain is better than most other strains on the list.
Here’s why:
This strain has higher levels of CBG and CBC than the average. And higher-than-average cannabinoid levels are associated with higher-than-average terpene levels.
Combined with the fact that this hemp comes from an indoor grow which is associated with a higher yield of trichomes that contain large concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes…
And we have to come to the conclusion that this strain should have higher terpene levels than most other strains on the list (except for #4 Jack Herer).
Based on the known cannabinoid-profile and the estimated terpene-profile, this is the strain that nets you the most other cannabinoids and terpenes per 1mg of CBD. For every 1mg of CBD, you get 0.2 mg of other cannabinoids and terpenes.
When we look at how many cannabinoids and terpenes you get per single dollar, we see that this strain is on the expensive side.
Indoor growing is more expensive than greenhouse or outside growing, we can clearly see that here.
Up next…
#6. Bubba Kush CBD Flower (Best Indica)
Pros and Cons
- The regular high-THC version is one of the most popular Kush variations
- Indica-dominant strain and high-CBD concentration mean that this strain has strong sedative and physical effects
- No terpene test
- No other cannabinoids than THC and CBD shown on test results
Bubba Kush is a highly potent Indica strain. By now you know that Indica strains have high levels of the terpene myrcene.
Since Indica strains usually produce a stronger physical effect than Sativa strains, researchers have looked at what differences in biochemical composition might cause this effect.
One study found that Indica strains contain a significantly higher concentration of the terpene myrcene (2).
Myrcene has sedating properties and could be one of the reasons why Indica strains are associated with stronger sedative and physical effects.
Myrcene is associated with sedative, calming, and relaxing effects.
And when you combine such a potent Indica strain with very high levels of CBD…
You get one of the most potent sedating and calming high-CBD strains…
But one that’s still slightly more balanced than a pure Kush powerhouse strain that’s further down the list.
The bottom line is:
If you’re looking for:
- One of the most potent sedating high-CBD strains, or
- You’re looking for a very powerful ‘body high’…
This is your strain.
Next up…
#7. Charlotte’s Web Hemp Flower (Most Popular)
Pros and Cons
- One of the most popular high-CBD hemp-strains
- This strain is used as the basis for a variety of premium CBD products
- Sativa-dominant so some uplifting effects, but still relatively strong sedative effects because of its high CBD-content
- No terpene test
- No other cannabinoids than THC and CBD shown on test results
Charlotte’s Web is one of the most famous CBD hemp strains.
This particular strain is being used by the namesake brand called ‘Charlotte’s Web’ to create all of their CBD products.
But there’s a difference between the CBD brand Charlotte’s Web, and the hemp strain Charlotte’s Web. While the CBD brand always uses the Charlotte’s Web hemp strain to produce their products…
The hemp strain can be grown by many different growers and farmers. Charlotte’s Web hemp flower doesn’t come from the CBD brand called ‘Charlotte’s Web’.
It’s a strain that packs between 15 and 20% of CBD and has a good amount of other cannabinoids and terpenes.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a complete test that shows the cannabinoid- and terpene profiles of this strain.
However, when we look at Charlotte’s Web (the CBD products brand) product lab tests, we can clearly see that this strain must contain a good number of other cannabinoids, including:
- CBG;
- CBC, and;
- A small amount of THC.
Keep in mind that exact cannabinoid- and terpene profiles can differ with every grow. But generally, while the exact concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes might differ, the presence of them should not.
This means that when you get Charlotte’s Web CBD hemp, you can always expect to get some CBG, CBC, and THC with your CBD.
While we don’t have a terpene test, based on the earlier-mentioned study (2) and the fact that can be classified as a ‘chemotype 3’ strain, we can expect more of the following terpenes inside this strain:
- as βeudesmol;
- γ-eudesmol;
- guaiol;
- α-bisabolene;
- α-bisabolol;
- or eucalyptol
Since this strain is generally classified as 60% Sativa and 40% Indica, we can also expect terpenes that are most commonly found in both types of strains, including:
- Terpinolene, and;
- Myrcene.
Keep in mind that this terpene-content is based on studies, but speculative, and unless you have a complete terpene-test, you can’t exactly tell what terpenes are inside your flower.
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Up next…
#8. Kush CBD Flower (Honorable Mention)
Pros and Cons
- The regular high-THC version is one of the most popular Kush variations
- Indica-dominant strain and high-CBD concentration mean that this strain has strong sedative and physical effects
- No terpene test
- No other cannabinoids than THC and CBD shown on test results
The regular marijuana version of this strain is one of the most famous Indica strains. The Kush strain has many variations, and the one we like the most is #6 on the list, Bubba Kush.
That being said…
The original Kush strain is one of the most potent:
- Sedative, and;
- Relaxing marijuana strains.
This high-CBD hemp-variant is also highly sedative, especially physically, and will produce a ‘body high’. Because of its low THC-percentage, the mental effects will of course be less than with the marijuana version.
By now you should also know that Indica strains like Kush contain higher levels of sedating terpenes like myrcene than Sativa-strains and this is part of the reason why this strain as well produces such strong sedative effects.
That being said…
If you’re looking for a potent sedating strain we prefer Bubba Kush over this one.
Here’s why:
Bubba Kush will give you 25% more CBD and other cannabinoids per dollar than this strain. It just gives you more value for money.
It’s also slightly more balanced and won’t produce as strong sedative effects as this Kush strain.
However, if you’re looking for the absolute strongest:
- Sedating;
- Physical, and;
- Relaxing high-CBD strain on the list…
This is it.
Next up…
CBD Flower vs Other Types of CBD Products
The main benefit of CBD flower is that you’re getting an extremely natural product. You’re literally consuming the plant itself and not any derivative of the plant.
What this means is that you’re always consuming CBD as nature intended it to be consumed:
In combination with all other cannabinoids and terpenes inside the plant.
The main downside is that you either have to vape or smoke it.
Smoking these high-CBD strains will definitely result in you ingesting a significant number of toxins, including tar and benzopyrene.
Vaping is always a less harmful option than smoking when it comes to consuming dry herb. And for that, you’ll need a dry herb vaporizer.
However, even vaping won’t protect you completely from toxins.
If you want to consume CBD without creating any toxic by-products, your only option is to go the oral route:
Or even creams if you only want to use CBD to relieve some local inflammation for example.
Benefits of High-CBD Strains vs Low-CBD Strains
Studies show that modern cannabis contains a significantly higher concentration of THC than 20-30 years ago.
A high consumption rate of THC has been linked to various negative health effects including:
-
- Impairment of cognitive function;
- Psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, and;
- Mood disorders.
My thesis is that growers have overdone the THC-part of cannabis…
And the unnaturally high levels of THC and low levels of CBD inside most modern cannabis strains lead to a very unbalanced experience.
Not only that, but my thesis is that:
These unnatural THC:CBD ratios are a big reason why cannabis is associated with some of these negative health effects.
Plenty of studies have shown that CBD counteracts some of the negative health effects of THC.
In fact, recently we showed that CBD can protect against THC-induced memory- and cognitive impairment.
In this day and age, if you’re going to smoke or vape cannabis, the best you could do for your health is get a high-CBD strain.
Also Read: Benefits of CBD
Sativa vs Indica
Making the distinction between Sativa and Indica strains is one useful way to categorize high-CBD strains.
Sativa strains are associated with:
- Energizing;
- Uplifting, and;
- Creative effects.
Indica strains are associated:
- Sedative;
- Relaxing, and;
- Strong physical effects.
Now, when it comes to high-CBD strains…
The cannabinoid profiles of Sativa and Indica strains don’t always differ that much. Both can contain high levels of CBD and smaller amounts of other cannabinoids.
So what exactly explains the differences in effect?
It most probably has to do with the terpene-profile.
For example:
Indica strains probably have a higher concentration of sedative terpenes like myrcene.
Therefore, also when it comes to high-CBD strains, you can expect stronger sedative effects from an Indica strain and more uplifting effects from a Sativa strain.
Keep in mind that most cannabis strains are hybrids.
Cannabis Chemotypes and Their Relationship to CBD
Some researchers have argued that the Indica/Sativa distinction isn’t the most useful way to categorize cannabis strains.
A different way to categorize cannabis strains is by chemotype as follow:
- Chemotype 1: high-THC/low-CBD strains;
- Chemotype 2: medium THC/medium CBD strains
- Chemotype 3: low-THC/high-CBD strains.
The strains on this list fall under the chemotype 3 category.
According to one study (3), chemotype 3 strains are associated with the following characteristics:
- Lower CBGA and CBC content than chemotype 1 plants;
- Higher levels of βeudesmol, γ-eudesmol, guaiol, α-bisabolene, α-bisabolol, and eucalyptol terpenes.
Smell of Strains
There’s also a moderate difference in smells between all the different strains, and a more general difference between Sativa and Indica strains.
One study (4) found that the smell of Indica strains can broadly be characterized by:
- Woody;
- Earthy, and;
- Herbal.
While Sativa strains can broadly be characterized by:
- Citrus;
- Lemon;
- Sweet, and;
- Pungent.
Of course, most cannabis strains are hybrids and thus crosses of Indica and Sativa strains and may have a combination of these different smells.
What’s Next…
Go to our CBD Hub to learn more about CBD-related topics.
Scientific References:
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Fischedick, J. T. (2017). Identification of Terpenoid Chemotypes Among High (−)-trans-Δ9- Tetrahydrocannabinol-ProducingCannabis sativaL. Cultivars. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2(1), 34–47. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2016.0040
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Hazekamp, A., Tejkalová, K., & Papadimitriou, S. (2016). Cannabis: From Cultivar to Chemovar II—A Metabolomics Approach to Cannabis Classification. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 1(1), 202–215. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2016.0017
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Aizpurua-Olaizola, O., Soydaner, U., ÖZtürk, E., Schibano, D., Simsir, Y., Navarro, P., . . . Usobiaga, A. (2016). Evolution of the Cannabinoid and Terpene Content during the Growth of Cannabis sativa Plants from Different Chemotypes. Journal of Natural Products, 79(2), 324–331. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00949
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Gilbert, A. N., & DiVerdi, J. A. (2018). Consumer perceptions of strain differences in Cannabis aroma. PLOS ONE, 13(2), e0192247. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192247